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15 <br /> Executive Summary <br /> Executive Summary <br /> OVERVIEW OF ORANGE PUBLIC TRANSPORTATION (OPT) <br /> This report documents the finding that there have been significant improvements in the <br /> administration and management of OPT over the past several years. OPT operates a fleet <br /> Of 14 vehicles, and the vehicle fleet is being updated to replace overage vehicles and right- <br /> sized to address near-term expansion. OPT is now operating out of offices with sufficient <br /> space and appropriate conditions managing the system. <br /> Fixed-route services at the moment include the Hillsborough Circulator, and the Orange- <br /> Chapel Hill Midday Connector. In the fixed-route service areas OPT provides the <br /> demand-response service required under the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA). <br /> Other demand-response services include service to the rural general public, seniors, and <br /> persons with disabilities. Specialized demand-response service is also provided to the <br /> clients of several County agencies and Orange Enterprises. The County has recently <br /> adopted a new fare policy with fares that vary by type of service and the age of the rider. <br /> COSTS AND FUNDING <br /> Overall based on FY 2014 data, the combined operating and administrative cost of OPT <br /> service was s1,o88,112, or $66.6o per service hour. Of that total, approximately$550,000 or <br /> 50% of the costs were covered by federal or state grants, fare revenue or contract income <br /> from human service agencies. In addition, there are capital costs primarily for vehicles, <br /> which vary year to year depending the number and type of vehicles. The incremental <br /> operating cost of new services for FY 2014 was $44.28. Application of a cost allocation <br /> model to the current services reveals that Orange County funds are subsidizing (to <br /> varying degrees) each of the programs utilizing OPT services. <br /> PERFORMANCE <br /> OPT provided 63,519 trips in FY 2014, of which 73 percent were on demand-response <br /> services, and the remainder on fixed-route service. A comparison of OPT's performance <br /> with similar systems in a peer group identified by NCDOT provides a rating of"Superior" <br /> for trips per service hour, cost per trip and percentage of non-contract riders per non- <br /> urban population. The subsidy per trip level was ranked as "Acceptable". OPT has <br /> KFH <br /> NCDOT Orange County ES-1 <br /> Transit Assessment Study <br />